The future of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford remains uncertain, with insights from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth shedding light on how he could potentially reintegrate into the squad.
Erik ten Hag, the head coach of the Red Devils, engaged in a public dispute with the former Borussia Dortmund player last month. Sancho has encountered challenges adapting to the Premier League since his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2021. Despite his impressive stint in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United spent £73 million to secure his services.
However, the 23-year-old has faced difficulties replicating his German form in England, contributing only 18 goals in 82 appearances. Notably, Sancho was absent from Manchester United’s matchday squad when they faced Arsenal on September 3rd, resulting in questions about his absence.
In response, Ten Hag suggested that Sancho’s absence was due to his training performance not meeting the required standards, hinting at additional reasons for his exclusion. Sancho responded with a now-deleted post on X, defending his training conduct and addressing the situation.
Subsequently, Manchester United released an official statement in September, revealing that Sancho would follow a personal training program away from the first-team group while awaiting the resolution of a squad discipline issue.
Sancho’s potential move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq faced obstacles when Manchester United demanded a £50 million obligation-to-buy clause in the season-long loan deal.
According to journalist Dean Jones, the likelihood of Sancho reviving his Manchester United career is slim after the incidents in September.
Dharmesh Sheth suggests that Sancho’s return to the squad can only occur if he initiates an apology to Ten Hag for his behavior. Sheth also raises the question of whether Ten Hag desires Sancho’s presence in the squad until the January transfer window. He suggests that Sancho must approach Ten Hag with an apology before the possibility of reintegration into the first-team picture.
As Sancho looks ahead to the winter transfer window, he may explore options outside of Manchester United, with potential interest from Saudi Arabia, as the Middle Eastern league has previously invested in Premier League and European talents. Manchester United could potentially consider a cut-price transfer fee below £50 million, making Al-Ettifaq a potential suitor.
Tottenham Hotspur had previously been linked with a £50 million move for Sancho in June, but their subsequent signings may have altered the landscape. Aston Villa is another club that could consider a late move for Sancho, particularly as they seek to bolster their squad following Emiliano Buendia’s injury.